Jagannath Nabakalebara to be promoted under Incredible India Campaign

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India will promote the Nabakalebar Festival of Odisha under the Incredible India campaign for its international branding. The Government of India will release Rs 50 crore for providing infrastructure and facilities for the festival, while the Union Culture Ministry will release a postal stamp and coin to mark the festival.

This information was given by Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Tourism and Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India, during a meeting with Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, in New Delhi over the weekend to discuss the preparations for the festival. The Nabakalebar Festival will be celebrated on July 10, 2015 after a gap of 19 years. Dr Lalit K Panwar, Secretary – Tourism, Government of India, and other senior officers of the Ministry of Tourism were also present at the meeting.

Dr Sharma also revealed that the Centre is making all efforts to start the first international flight from the Bhubaneswar International Airport on this occasion, as per a PIB release. This first flight is likely to be for Abu Dhabi, he added. Odisha has been demanding an international flight from the Bhubaneswar International Airport.